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Shikha Pandey made a surprise comeback in India’s 15-member squad for the Women’s 2023 T20 World Cup in South Africa. file. , Photo credit: Vivek Bendre
Veteran fast bowler Shikha Pandey on Wednesday made a surprise comeback in India’s 15-member squad for the Women’s 2023 T20 World Cup in South Africa.
The ICC event will be played from February 10 to 26.
Shikha last played for India in October 2021 before being controversially dropped from the team. His inclusion also shows the lack of depth in the fast bowling department.
The 33-year-old, whose strength lies in swinging the ball, has played three Tests, 55 ODIs and 56 T20Is.
Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the team while Smriti Mandhana will be her deputy.
Jemimah Rodrigues has managed to retain her place in the team despite low returns in India’s 1-4 series loss to mighty Australia.
Left-arm fast bowler Anjali Sarwani is also part of the squad after her debut series against Australia. Other pace bowling options include Renuka Thakur and Pooja Vastrakar, whose inclusion in the squad is subject to fitness.
The Australia series exposed India’s weaknesses in the bowling department and the team has a lot of work to do ahead of the ICC event.
The spinners in the team include all-rounders Deepti Sharma and Devika Vaidya besides Radha Yadav and Rajeshwari Gaikwad.
Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh are already in South Africa with the Under-19 team.
India had lost to Australia in the 2020 T20 World Cup final at the MCG.
The BCCI also announced the squad for the tri-series to be held before the World Cup.
The World Cup reserves – Sneh Rana, S Meghna and Meghna Singh – are part of the tri-series squad. The tri-series between India, South Africa and West Indies begins on January 19.
Sushma Verma, who last played for India in March 2021, has made a comeback for the tri-series. Uncapped all-rounder Amanjot Kaur is the only new face in the squad.
India will begin their tri-series campaign against hosts South Africa on January 19 before facing West Indies on January 23. All the teams will play each other twice before the final on February 2.
Shaft: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Devika Vaidya, Radha Yadav, Renuka Thakur, Anjali Sarwani, Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gaikwad, Shikha Pandey.
India’s squad for the tri-series: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (Vice-Captain), Yastika Bhatia (Wicket-keeper), Jemima Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Devika Vaidya, Rajeshwari Gaikwad, Radha Yadav, Renuka Thakur, Meghna Singh, Anjali Sarwani, Sushma Verma (Wicket-keeper) ) ), Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, Sabbhineni Meghna, Sneh Rana, Shikha Pandey.
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